occurs in a part of the brain that helps control movement, called the substantia nigra. There, dopamine-releasing neurons start to become impaired or die off.
Substantia Nigra
Dopamine-Releasing Neuron
Parkinson’s disease
Healthy neurons produce dopamine, which send signals to your muscles, telling them to move.
Transmitting
Dopamine
Receiving
HEALTHY Neuron
Normal movement
In people who have Parkinson’s, the neurons produce less dopamine, which causes movement problems, such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. Over time, the substantia nigra loses more neurons, worsening impairments.
Parkinson's Affected Neuron
Movement disorders
Neurons in the locus coeruleus, a part of the brain stem, start to die, which reduces norepinephrine, the chemical that controls heart rate and blood pressure.
Locus Coeruleus
Clumps of protein known as Lewy bodies can accumulate in the brain stem, spreading throughout the brain as the disease progresses and making motor and non-motor symptoms worse.
Lewey Bodies
Replay
